‘Chef’ has sacrified much to help others
‘Chef’ has sacrified much to help others
There is a “chef” who has been behind the scenes in Wainiha every day since the flooding disaster. He is our neighbor and long-time friend, Charles “Chef” Steppe. He works for Opakapaka Grill & Bar, in Wainiha, next to the Hanalei Colony Resort.
He was on the way to work that early morning as one of the landslides happened right in front of him. He turned around and came back home to Kapaa. Within a couple of days, he managed to find someone with a boat to get him back to the restaurant. He was able to get the kitchen up and running.
We have all heard of the many volunteers helping the community to recover. They were also able to get the children together there for school days. And Charles was there feeding everyone, breakfast, lunch and dinner! He is not able to come home to his family and return in time to prep for breakfast, because of the time restrictions to leave and return.
He has volunteered his time to be away from his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and his 1-year-old grandson, missing many “first-time” events. He has had some help in the kitchen but he cannot leave more than a couple of days at a time without making sure he has a replacement and all food supplies are stocked.
Let’s give Charles “Chef” Steppe a big “mahalo” for all he has done and continues to feed those living, working and volunteering up on our isolated North Shore!
Carol and Roger Ridgley Jr., Kapaa
